My Craigslist Car and the Poverty Cycle

I bought my ’98 Cavalier for just over $1000 on Craigslist. 

This is the first car I can truly call my own; I saved up the money, put in several hours of research, and met with the previous owner in a Dollar General parking lot to exchange my hard-earned cash for a set of wheels. 
When I first got my license, my trial vehicle was our beat up baby-blue family van that eventually stuttered to a permanent stop on a back road in my hometown when I turned 17.  Dad gave me his work truck after that, which was totaled when a middle-aged woman T-boned me on 16^th street.  I then acquired a retired police Chevy Impala with the insurance money, and later sold it when my meager bank account began to dwindle. 

I took IndyGo bus 25 from home to work to school and back home for half a year.  I thought of my bus rides as hour-long adventures, prime people watching.  I made friends with the regulars; I became a regular.  However, I grew sick of the hard, plastic seats and the lack of air conditioning in many of the buses.  I hated the way some businessmen and women looked at the bus stop with loathing—some even crossed the street to avoid us.  And I couldn’t help but to feel like a stranger to the people who stood waiting with me.  Here were people who pushed old grocery carts with their belongings around the city.  Here were young mothers nursing their crying babies in the middle of a crowded bus.  Here were middle-aged women with aprons who went to work an hour early every day and left an hour late every evening.  I, on the other hand, am a student from a lower middle-class family who will likely never know the true struggles of a poverty-level life. 

When I bought my Chevy Cavalier, although it was old with high mileage, I couldn’t help but to feel a sense of empowerment—that I was moving up in the world, and that I deserved this car.  I needed it; I wanted to go places on my own time.  I was no longer going to stand riding on that gross bus anymore.

So this weekend when I took my beloved car to the auto shop and they told me the repairs might cost upwards of $800 dollars, I lost it.  I make under poverty-level income as an AmeriCorps VISTA, and that $800 dollars is a full month of pay.  How can I afford to fix my car and pay my rent?  Groceries?  Utilities?  My phone bill?  Many of my days begin at 8 a.m. and end at 9 p.m. with school and work, and I can’t fathom how a bus will fit into that equation.  Plus, I love my car.  I love the freedom of driving it to my buddy’s place on the weekends, and my favorite picnic spot for lunch.  My mother sent me a text earlier that said, Please tell us how much this will cost.  We can help pay.  In the meantime, we can drive you to and from work. My boyfriend’s family offered to let me drive their extra Ford Focus while my car gets repaired.  Everyone I talked to this weekend offered up their support in one way or another, sometimes at the expense of their own comfort.

My panic subsided this morning as I drove the borrowed Ford Focus to work.  The ride is so smooth, and unlike my Cavalier I didn’t hear the roar of the muffler every time I accelerated.  I won’t have to ride the bus after all.  I am so thankful for the family and friends who will help support me, and for the money that I can eventually save up to buy a nice vehicle.  But in the back of my mind, I think about all the bus-goers who travel to minimum-wage jobs, and who might not have a solid support system.  Where is the fairness in that?  I am lucky enough to have help out of a tough situation because I’m not stuck in the cycle of poverty.  I chose a job that puts me at poverty-level income for a year, but I still have my family to fall back on, my student waivers, my friends and loved ones who are more than willing to lend a hand. 

Here’s the bottom line: I work as a VISTA because I want to decrease the disparity between classes. I know firsthand the struggles of being without a car, and I don’t want to go back.  Many Indianapolis residents have no choice.  

My challenge to readers is this: next time you walk past a bus stop, try not to stigmatize.  Imagine yourself without a vehicle, and with no means of getting your hands on another.  Imagine the lack of freedom that comes with this, the weight of the groceries that you must carry from stop to stop. 

How do you help?  Sometimes a simple smile will do, or any small show of support.  If you find yourself truly passionate about making a change, I recommend looking up AmeriCorps VISTA, whose mission is to break the cycle.  Here’s a link: www.nationalservice.gov/program/americorps/americorps-vista

Why Dreamers Love Indianapolis

Why Dreamers Love Indianapolis

Last Friday, I walked into the old City Hall, an imposing edifice downtown built from Indiana limestone.  Now transformed into The Hall, the building has played an important role in Indy’s history.  Constructed in the early 1900s to symbolize “the stability and achievements of the city,” the Hall housed government offices, the State Museum, and Central Library.  It was an essential building until 2008, when after almost 100 years of use it sat vacant.  Thanks to a local nonprofit, in 2014 old City Hall became The Hall and now serves as a meeting space for community-based initiatives.

Now, I am a city girl through and through.  I have a Vonnegut doll, a penchant for eating too much Bazbeaux pizza, and a passion for promoting progress in Naptown.  That's how I found myself at The Hall for Indy 5X5 – re:Purpose, an event that's part of a bigger plan to strengthen the community.  

Here's the rundown: Indy 5X5 chooses five presenters to share their ideas for “repurposing urban waste into assets,” community members vote for a favorite, and the winner walks away with $10,000 toward his/her project.  Sounds riveting, right?  As much as I thought this was an awesome way to spend my Friday evening, I was hardly expecting a large crowd. 

Boy, was I mistaken.  Every folding chair on the expansive marble floor was occupied; small groups stood along the back wall and in doorways leading to halls under construction.  Around the room, community members networked and spoke of Indy's potential.  When it was time for 5X5, we all squeezed into the dense rows of flimsy chairs and held tight our voting tickets for the end of the evening.

The presenters’ projects varied in size and scope, but shared a common vision of community collaboration.  The winning park project, E.N.G.I.N.E, centers on repurposing a Bonneville into artwork that celebrates the community’s Hispanic heritage.  This park project fills a spot that has been long empty, and will allow youth in the Near Westside to have both a safe place to play and a space that embraces culture.

When I got home, I sat at my small kitchen table, looked at my limestone Indiana paperweight, and began to dream up my own projects for the city.

So why do dreamers love Indianapolis?  Because when I walked into The Hall on Friday, I saw a community gathered together for a noble cause.  I saw The Hall repurposed from a vacant building into a haven for innovative pursuits.  Finally, I saw a start-up group with a great idea given the opportunity to benefit its neighborhood in a big way!

Our vast network of nonprofits and committed government officials allows community members with great ideas to uniquely repurpose Indianapolis. 

I am proud to be part of one such nonprofit that is encouraging and innovative in its community pursuits.  As we speak, MCCOY is working on some very exciting stuff including a revamped Youth Advocacy Council, the Family Access Network services center, and of course much, much more!

For more information, visit www.mccoyouth.org :)

City Hall References:

Historical information regarding Old Indianapolis City Hall retrieved from http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/indianapolis/oldcityhall.htm National Park Service. "Old Indianapolis City Hall." National Parks Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, n.d. Web. 01 July 2014.

Photo Credit:

People for Urban Progress website: http://www.peopleup.org/right-now/tag/indianapolis "The Hall-- New Life for Old City Hall." People for Urban Progress. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 July 2014.Indy 5X5 website: http://5x5indy.org/index.php/repurpose/ "5×5 Indy » Re:Purpose." Arts, Innovation, 5X5 Indianapolis. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 July 2014.

Lynhurst Baptist Helps the Community

I am very blessed to be a part of Lynhurst Baptist Church. Lynhurst gives many people the opportunity to get back on their feet during tough times. Our church has a community center that offers a variety of programs to help people in the community when they are in need.

Restoring Lives West is a program that helps young teens who are homeless receive help in getting a job, finding a place to stay, and receiving food and clothing until they can provide for themselves. Another program that is also at the community center is the after school program that allows parents to send their children to low cost childcare after regular school hours, while they attend they receive help on their homework and have the opportunity to grow as a human being and a student. In the community center there is a resale shop that many people donate clothing, housewares, furniture, and electronics to. Every second Saturday of the month there is a sale and everything is .25, this sale helps out the community by allowing them to get gently used items for a low cost and raises money for our church.

Grocery stores around the community will give the community center food when they no longer can sell it and the community center gives it all away for free to those in need. There is also a shower at the center that they will allow homeless people to use to clean up, when they have no one else to turn to they come here.

This community center does a lot of great things for the community and for the people who volunteer there. I volunteered there a number of times and donated many items to the resale shop and it is very rewarding to know you are making someone's life better and the community a better place. This church is open to serving anyone who needs help and feels very blessed to be able to help people when they are in need.

I am attaching the link to the church and community center, if you know anyone who can utilize this please pass it along :)

http://www.lynhurstbaptist.org/

To the Round Pegs in The Square Holes

“The ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones that do” is a quote from an Apple marketing campaign that hangs on the wall of my office. I believe it wholeheartedly to be true...and I am a crazy one.

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Luckily, I am not alone. Yesterday afternoon I marched downtown with almost 2500 people who were crazy enough to think they could make change. And you know what? They did. Moms, dads, kids in strollers, community members, media, women in wheel chairs, and even men on horses gathered at Crispus Attucks High School. They marched down the street stopping rush hour traffic wearing hoodies, toting signs, and carrying Skittles and iced tea to bring awareness to the death of Trayvon Martin, a young man who was killed in Florida by someone on the neighborhood watch.

This case has received national attention because the man who killed Trayvon has not been arrested. Florida has a law that allows a person to use deadly force if they feel their property or person is being threatened. It is commonly known as the “Shoot First, Ask Second” Law or the Stand Your Ground Law.*

People listen to speakers while holding signs asking for justice and bearing Trayvon's face.

I think in order to change the world we must be willing to face the problems in society head on. We cannot sweep them under the rug because then there is nothing to address. We cannot blame others because then we can always be the victim. We must recognize difficulty, offer solutions, and be the ones willing to work for them. Yesterday I saw some of that. People united. People creating change. I was glad to take part in the demonstration, to lend my presence and speak out against taking a life because the law says it is okay.

There is much left to be changed. And it starts with you...the crazy ones.

*I encourage you to research these laws and this case. I am by no means an expert. I included links so you could see some of what's out there. I attended this rally because I do not believe in killing people and I wanted to show my support for this young man and his family. 

The views and opinions expressed in this article are mine and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of MCCOY. If you would like to learn more about how your voice can be heard, please sign up for MCCOY's advocacy newsletter, Youth Advocacy Council, or follow us at MCCOY_Advocacy.

Election Day is Next Month - Are You Informed?

Election day is less than a month away and, while this isn't a presidential election year, it is no less important. For voters who live in Marion County, the mayoral race is heating up and could potentially be historic for Indianapolis if Melina Kennedy is elected as the first female mayor for the city. This is also a municipal election year and many seats on the City/County Council are up for grabs as are other council seats in surrounding counties.

These smaller municipal elections tend to have lower voter turnout than the years with presidential elections, but they are no less important. The candidates for whom you are voting have direct control over your city, town, or neighborhood. They make decisions on public safety, on parks and planning, and on the budget. The impact that these policy makers have affect your daily life in ways greater than the president or your federal legislators.

So, why is turnout so low? Well, there's typically less campaigning and therefore less visibility of the candidates. The budgets are smaller and public appearances happen on a smaller scale. This leads many voters to not even know who is running in their district and not feel invested in the election. Many figure that these local seats have less significance because of lower profile of the candidates.

As a U.S. citizen, our democracy gives every adult the right to vote. We are fighting wars in other countries to promote democracy, but it's interesting that we don't utilize that right to it's fullest potential. Particularly in these contentious political and economic times, we need to ensure that we are paying attention and are informed about the politicians whom we are electing into office. And, if we don't like the job that they are doing, making that known at election time.

The Indianapolis Star has posted an interactive voter's guide to the local candidates. You can search the candidates in your district, learn about their stances and backgrounds, and even print out your sample ballot so that you don't forget your selections by the time you get to the polls. I highly recommend that you check it out.

http://www.indystar.com/interactive/article/99999999/NEWS05/110318019/IndyStar-Voter-Guide

The White House is Behind MCCOY's Efforts!

President Obama announces White House Council for Community Solutions

On December 14, 2010, President Obama signed an Executive Order creating the first-ever White House Council for Community Solutions. The 25-member Council includes people like Bill Strickland, a social innovator and entrepreneur whose keynote address inspired the MCCOY team at the Kids Count in Indiana Conference last month. Strickland founded the Manchester Craftsman's Guild in 1968. The Guild now serves over 4,000 youth and families annually through arts classes, career training and more and serves as a model for similar programs in San Francisco, Cincinnati, and Grand Rapids.

Strickland's programs and the Council for Community Solutions are inspirations for MCCOY, the community-wide Early Intervention and Prevention (EIP) Initiative we coordinate, and especially the Co-Locate Services strategy from the EIP Strategic Plan. Co-location means housing essential services (like job training, parenting classes, and health care) together in an easily-accessible and welcoming place for families and children, such as a community center or library.

The purpose of the new White House Council for Community Solutions is to:

1. identify the key attributes of effective community developed solutions to our national problems;


2. identify specific policy areas in which the Federal Government is investing significant resources that lend themselves to cross-sector collaboration and provide recommendations for such collaborations;


3. highlight examples of best practices, tools, and models that are making a demonstrable positive impact in communities and fostering increased cross-sector collaboration and civic participation;


4. make recommendations to the President on how to engage individuals, State and local governments, institutions of higher education, non profit and philanthropic organizations, community groups, and businesses to support innovative community-developed solutions that have a significant impact in solving our Nation's most serious problems; and


5. honor and highlight the work of leaders in service and social innovation who are making a significant impact in their communities.

Rally for IndyGo Funding: Thursday May 20th

Now is your opportunity to show your support for IndyGo, the only transit option for many of the families in our community.  Lack of transportation options limits access to potential job opportunities, as well as the programs and services that are critical to positive youth development.

IndyGo is facing a $3 million shortfall in funding for 2010. If this deficit is not eliminated, IndyGo will be forced to make further service cuts, leaving many Indianapolis residents, including those with disabilities, without transportation to work and community services, and leaving Indianapolis businesses with employees who can't get to work. The IndyGo cuts will come even as bus ridership has grown in the first quarter of this year, and city residents and businesses are still struggling to recover from the economic recession.

When: Thursday, May 20th, 4:45pm - 5:30pm. (IndyGo hearing follows rally at 5:30 pm)
Where: Indianapolis Convention Center- Capitol Street entrance
Who: Indiana Citizens' Alliance for Transit and all citizens interested in public transit in Marion County

The Indiana Citizens' Alliance for Transit is calling on Mayor Ballard, the Indianapolis Marion County City-County Council, and IndyGo management to maintain current IndyGo funding and service levels.

For more information, contact:

• Kelly Kuhn, Hoosier Environmental Council, 317-685-8800, ext. 108, kkuhn@hecweb.org
• John Marron, Indiana Association for Community Economic Development, 317-920-2300, ext. 21, jmarron@iaced.org
• Kim Irwin, Health by Design, 317-352-3844, kirwin@acsm.org

The Libraries Need YOU Tonight and on the 12th!

Keeping libraries open should be a priority IndyStar.com The Indianapolis Star

MCCOY knows libraries are a vital element of a healthy community. They provide computer and Internet access to folks who use those resources for employment searches and educating themselves. The library is a neutral, safe place for children and a gathering place for neighbors. We could go on an on about the public benefits of the libraries, their role in early intervention and prevention strategies for children, families and the common good.

While city officials mull over a $12.5 million Super Bowl makeover for Georgia Street the possible takeover of the $15 million yearly operating cost of Conseco Fieldhouse, six libraries in the neediest neighborhoods face closing.

Organized groups of Indianapolis citizens are determined to save six public libraries from closing. Stop Look Listen has created a website, Facebook and Twitter groups to rally citizens in support of postponing the decision on library closings (a vote currently slated for June 2010). Community organizers have also set up Facebook groups like Save the Spades Park Library and Save the Glendale Branch to attract and communicate with supporters.

If you agree that community gathering places, education and bridging the digital divide should be priorities in Indianapolis, ask our city leaders to postpone the vote on library closings and take time to find a creative solution to the library's estimated $3 million annual deficit (a deficit that could be avoided if every Indianapolis citizen donated as little as $3.00; a deficit created by proposed caps on property taxes that supply 80% of the library's budget).

Write letters to the Library Board of Trustees, the Library CEO, your City-County Councillors and the Mayor. Come out and meet your neighbors for the uplifting cause of saving one of our community's most important, positive assets.

Public hearings are scheduled for Monday May 10th and Wednesday May 12th at 6:30 p.m. at the Library Services Center, 2450 N. Meridian Street, Room 226. Citizen groups will rally in the parking lot at 5:30. Attend with friends and neighbors to voice your support.

SAMPLE LETTER for your use in emails, letters or phone calls to public officials:

Dear (INSERT NAME HERE):

I am alarmed at the possible closure of six library branches in Indianapolis. The branches slated for potential closing are in neighborhoods that deserve and truly need their libraries and all the services the library has to offer.

Libraries serve a vital social service by helping bridge the gap between the "haves" and the "have-nots," especially when it comes to literacy and computer skills training. Libraries offer services and products that level the intellectual playing field. The existence of libraries ensures that knowledge and technology are available to everyone, not just to those who can afford their own. This is more than charity work; this helps raise the education levels of society as a whole. Studies have shown that the presence of libraries is good for towns and cities; people and business owners find more value in areas that have libraries nearby. And they have rated libraries higher than other public services in professionally conducted polls.

As a taxpaying citizen of Marion County, our community's libraries are a top priority. Please take the time to provide what support you can in helping us to keep our libraries open. Delay the final decision on closing the libraries. Renegotiate one-year leases of the libraries in jeopardy to provide additional time to asses other ways to shrink the deficit or raise capital, without shutting down any branches. By doing this, the library board (along with other city leaders and community members) will allow itself the time necessary to evaluate all current options—and brainstorm new methods—for stemming the library’s deficit.

Thank you very much for your consideration.

YOUR NAME

YOUR ADDRESS

YOUR PHONE or EMAIL

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Direct your letters, phone calls and emails to the following power players:

Find your City-County Council district and contact your Councillor

via email, phone call or letter:

The Honorable or Councillor (Name)
241 City-County Building, 200 E.Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: 317- 327-4242

Thomas S. Shevlot, President, IMCPL Board of Trustees (& other board members)

7326 Elm Ridge Drive
Indianapolis, IN 46236
Phone Number: 317-823-9887
tomshevlot@aol.com

Submit a letter to the editor of the Indianapolis Star or mail it to:

Letters to the Editor

The Indianapolis Star

P.O. Box 145

Indianapolis, IN 46206-0145

or fax it to: 1-317-444-6800.

Please include your name, address and phone number.

Send a letter to the editor of Nuvo.